FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Page 1

May 2012

Food Assistance through the Commodity Credit Corporation

Overview

USDA’s Farm Service Agency 

(FSA) administers farm commodity, 

farm credit and resource conservation programs for farmers through 

a nationwide network of state and 

county offices. The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is a 

wholly-owned government corporation within USDA, which provides 

funding for farm programs and for 

the purchase, storage and disposal 

of surplus agricultural commodities. 

FSA personnel act as administrative 

agents who manage CCC’s inventory of bulk and processed commodities.

Purchases and Donations

FSA purchases U.S. agricultural 

commodities and food products 

for domestic and international 

food assistance programs that help 

individuals in need. FSA’s Deputy 

Administrator for Commodity 

Operations (DACO) is responsible 

for the procurement, storage and 

transportation of products to fulfill 

USDA program commitments, and 

contracts with private industry to 

supply the various programs with 

high quality nutritious products.

FSA purchases commodities for 

use in the P.L. 480 Title II and III 

“Food for Peace” program administered by the U.S. Agency for 

International Development, and the 

“Food for Progress” program, the 

McGovern-Dole International Food 

for Education and Child Nutrition program and the Section 416 

(b) program administered by the 

Foreign Agricultural Service. The 

purchased commodities provide 

nutritious foods for both emergency 

and development aid programs.

Commodities procured include 

processed grain products such as 

bulgur, wheat flour and cornmeal; 

blended foods such as wheat-soy 

blend and corn-soy blend; and 

pulses such as peas, beans and lentils. Also included are milled rice; 

vegetable oil; whole grains, such as 

wheat, corn and sorghum; and dairy 

and peanut products. Commodities may be provided directly from 

government-owned stocks when 

surplus commodities are available in 

inventory.

FSA’s Commodity Operations personnel, working with other federal 

agencies and international organizations, delivered approximately 1.8 

million metric tons of grain and 

food products (valued at nearly 

$1 billion) during fiscal year 2011 

to relief programs throughout the 

world.

Domestic Food Assistance

FSA and other USDA agencies purchase and deliver foods for various 

domestic food assistance programs. 

These include national school lunch, 

school breakfast, child and adult 

food care, summer food service, elderly feeding, charitable institutions, 

Indian reservations, emergency 

food assistance and special supplemental food for women, infants, 

and children. FSA is often called 

upon to quickly provide food aid 

for emergency situations caused by 

hurricanes, floods and other natural 

disasters.

FSA supplied approximately 392 

million pounds of commodities such 

as grain, dairy, peanut and cereal 

products worth more than $400 million during fiscal year 2011.

Additional Information

For information on FSA commodity operations, including purchase 

announcements and solicitations, 

contact either of the following offices:

USDA, Farm Service Agency

Commodity Operations Division, 

Director

Stop 0553

P.O. Box 2415

Washington, DC 20013

(202) 720-2121

USDA, Farm Service Agency

Kansas City Commodity Office

Deputy Director

P.O. Box 419205

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

(816) 926-6301

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

prohibits discrimination in all of its programs 

and activities on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, 

parental status, religion, sexual orientation, 

political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s 

income is derived from any public assistance 

program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 

and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to 

USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., 

Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or 

call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or 

(800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 

(English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 

(Spanish Federal-relay). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer.